Hockenheim Preview: Into the unknown

Pirelli is used to being a talking point at grand prix weekends this year, but the fact its Formula 1 rubber has never been used at Hockenheim could throw yet another curveball into the 2012 season

It won't come as a surprise to anyone that the Pirelli tyres will be a major talking point at Hockenheim this weekend. For the first time this season, the teams and drivers face the challenge of a circuit on which they have never before used the Italian company's rubber. While there has been evidence of some getting a firmer grip on tyre behaviour in recent races, Hockenheim's first grand prix since 2010 could throw a vicious curveball into the mix.

Pirelli has allocated its soft and medium rubber for this weekend. Given the extent of the data it has accumulated on its 2012 rubber and the simulations that it has run through, we can take it as a given that Pirelli has got its selection right even though it has never run its Formula 1 tyres at the track. The teams also have plenty of knowledge of the two compounds, but that fact that theno he last German Grand Prix at Hockenheim was run on Bridgestones means that there will be plenty to learn during Friday practice.